Butter-cutter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. KAISER. BUTTER CUTTER.

No. 484,023. Patented Oct. 11, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH A. KAISER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BUTTER-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,023, dated October 11, 1892.

Application filed January 26, 1892. Serial No. 419,318. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. KAISER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Butter-Cutters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to the herein described form of butter-cutter illustrated here-. with, by which a definite amount may be cut and withdrawn from a firkin of butter or like articles of domestic economy.

The object of my invention is to make suc an implement more practically useful and more easily manipulated; and it consists in the improvements in a device of. this character hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a cylindrical butter-cutter to which I have applied my special improvements. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1. Figs. 3, 5, 6, 7, and S are sectional views, taken, respectively, on the lines 3 3, 5 5, 6 6, 7 7, and 8 8 in Fig. 1; and Figs. 4and 9 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4 4 and 9 9 in Fig. 2. V

The device as a whole consists, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, in a cylindrical casing A, the lower edge of which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is formed with a cutting-edge a. The upper end of the casing A is closed by the cover-piece B, to which is secured the lower ends of the inverted- U -shaped handle part O. Through a central perforation in the cover-piece B is fitted the tubular stem portion D of the false-bottom plate E, to theupper end of which is secured the flangeplate F. The length of the tubular stem D corresponds approximately to the depth of the casing A. Through the tubular stem D extends the knife-rod G, to the lower end of which is secured the radial cutting-knife H (see Figs. 1, 2, and 7) and to the upper end, which extends up through a perforation provided therefor in the middle of the handle part 0 to a convenient distance beyond the same, of which is secured the cross-bar handle I. The rod G is susceptible of a longitudinal and rotary movement relative to the easing A and attached handle-piece 0, except when prevented by the nose is of the bifurcated lever-catch K, engaging in a recess 0r hole provided therefor in the side of the rod G (see Figs. 1 and 3) at a point in the length of the same, adapting the rod to be held in such a position in its longitudinal movement relative to the casing A that the knife H, at tached thereto, shall correspond approximately to the lower end or the cutting-edge a of the casing. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the nose 7c is kept in engagement with itsrecess in the rod G by a flat spring k, and when it is desired to release the rod G from the catch K (see Fig. 4:) pressure is applied to the arm K of the catch.

The longitudinal movement of the false bottom E, with attached parts D and F, relative to the cutting-knife H, is adjustably defined by the flange-plate F, abutting against the removable stop-pin L, several holes 1 Z Z" Z for the insertion of which are provided at different points in the length of the rod G.

The knife H, instead of being rigidly secured on the end of the rod G, is pivotally connected thereto, adapting the knife to be turned from its normal position at right angles to the rod G, as shown in Fig. 1, to a position in line with the rod, as shown in Fig. 2. The knife H is normally held in its position at right angles to the rod G by the lower end of the rod M, properly shaped therefor, which is fitted into the interior of the tubular rod G, pushing against the upper fiat side of the knife-piece H by being impelled in this direction by the coil-spring N, which is interposed between the upper end of the rod M and the upper closed end of the tubular rod G. It is evident from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the rod M must be allowed a longitudinal movement to permit the knifepiece H to be brought to the relative position shown in Fig. 2. To prevent this movement of the rod M, it is provided with the locking cross-bar M, secured to it at right angles to the same, as shown in Fig. 1. In theside of the tubular rod G is provided a longitudinal slot G, formed with an offset G", asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 9. When the knife H and the rod M are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the rod M is given a slight turn, bringing the locking-bar M into the recess G", (see Figs. 1 and 8,) thereby locking the rod M against any longitudinal movement and holding the knife in its normal radially-extended position. When in the operation of my improved device it is desirable that the knife assume the position shown in Fig. 2, the locking-bar M is turned around the axis of the rod M, throwing it out of the recess G" into the longitudinal slot G to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 9, when the rod M can be given a longitudinal movement, releasing the knife H.

The means of using my improved cutter'is as follows: The catch K, having been set in its notch in the rod G (see Fig. 3) and the rod 9 M locked against longitudinal movement in 1 the manner described, (see-Figs. 1 and 8,) thedevioeis forced into the butter until it is stopped by the false-bottom plate E coming in contact with the top surface of the butter. The relative depthto which the casing can be thus forced into the butter is defined by the flange-plate F, striking against the pin L, j

which may be set in any of the desired holes Z- Z, &c., (in the one-half-pound hole, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2,) the diametrical dimensions and the consequent distance from the planeof' the knife H and the false bottom E being such that the desired portion of a pound or other standard measure shall be included therein. the rod G, permitting the rod G and with it the knife H to be given one complete turn, thereby cutting the butter contained in the casing away from the bulk of butter in the firkin. The implement is then withdrawn, carrying with it the quantity of butter contained therein. Now to withdraw the butter from the casing the locking-bar M is first turned to the position shown in Fig. 9, permitting the knife H to assume the position shown in Fig. 2', when the rod Gcan be drawn back until it is within the stem portion D and then the plate E pushed forward by tak ing hold of the flange-plate F, pushing the The catch K is then released from butter out from the casing. My improvement consists in such a cutter in adding the catch K to prevent alongitudinal movement of the rod G relative to the casing A and handle 0, whereby the device as a whole is more rigid and conveniently handled in forcing it into the butter and in hinging the knife H to the end of the rod G, enabling the butter as separated from the bulk to be removed from the cutter without again radiallycuttin g the lump of butter thus removed by the knife, as was i done in forcing the cutte-r'i-nto-th-ebutter, and

and in the means for retaining the knife in position as if" made rigid to the rod G, when desired.

the cutter, of a rod, a knife pivoted in the I claim- 1. In av butter-cutter, thecombination, with end thereof, means for releasing said knifeto- 1 permit it to assume a position parallel to the rod, and a false-bottom ejeotoi plate sleeved on said rod, substantially as. and for the pur 1 poses described.

2. In abutter-cu-t-ter, the combinatiomwi th I a cutter, of a hollow knife-supporting red a knife pivoted the end of said rod, a con- .trolling-rod for the knife, a spring bearing against the controlling-rod, and means for locking the said rod.- agaiin-st longitudinal movement, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

3. In a butter-cutter, the combination, with the cutter and its handle, of a hollow knifesu'pporting rod, a knifepivoted in the end of said rod, an ejector-plate sleeved on said rod,

and means on the handle for locking theknife-supporting rod against longitudinal and rotary movement, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of January, 1892.

. JOSEPH A. KAISER.

Witnesses:

A. RAMEL, J os. W. CROOKS. 

